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Bookmaker

  • Hours

    40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £13,500 + per year

As a bookmaker, you would manage and coordinate all gambling activities. You could work in a licensed betting office or at a sporting location such as a horse racing venue. If you are interested in sport and you can manage staff, this job could be a good choice for you.

To be good at this job you should also have an outgoing personality. You will need good customer service skills. You will also need maths skills in order to make calculations quickly.

You can get into this job by working your way up from a cashier job. You may also be able to apply for a trainee manager scheme. You might be able to apply directly for this job if you have experience in a customer service management job. You need to be at least aged 18 to work in a betting office.



The work

Bookmakers can work 'on course' or 'off course'. Off-course bookmakers, also called betting shop managers, run licensed betting offices. On-course bookmakers, or turf accountants, work in betting shops on location – usually at horse or dog racing tracks.

As a bookmaker, your tasks could include:

  • developing a team of cashiers
  • taking money, placing bets and paying out winnings during busy periods
  • recruiting and training new staff
  • dealing with complaints
  • setting sales targets
  • balancing accounts at the end of the day
  • implementing a high level of customer service throughout your team.

Hours

You would work around 40 hours a week, including evenings and weekends (both on-course and off-course betting shops are open seven days a week). During winter, opening hours are approximately 10am to 6pm. From April to August, shops will stay open until the results of the last race (which can be around 9.30pm). Part-time work may be possible.

As an on-course bookmaker, your work could take you all over the country to different sporting events. Your 'office' would be outdoors in all weather conditions.


Income

Starting salaries for trainee or assistant managers can be between around £13,500 and £18,500 a year. Experienced managers may earn between £30,000 and £40,000.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You could start out as a cashier and work your way up (check the betting shop cashier job profile for details), or apply directly to a bookmakers for a trainee manager post. If working your way up from a cashier it may be an advantage if you undertake a Level 3 NVQ in Gambling Operations. If you have previous experience, for example as a customer service manager, you may be able to apply directly for a management job.

To get a trainee manager post, many employers prefer you to have GCSEs (A-C) including English and maths. Some off-course bookmakers may also want you to have qualifications such as a BTEC HND or degree. Subjects with a strong business or maths element would be most useful (check with colleges or universities for entry requirements).

When you apply for a job as a bookmaker, you will often be asked to sit a basic maths test to show that you can deal with percentages and calculating odds and payments. Extra maths tuition is sometimes provided by employers.

Previous experience of customer service, supervising colleagues and handling money would give you an advantage when looking for work.

By law you need to be at least aged 18 to work in a betting office.


Training and development

You will usually receive on-the-job training from your employer, which may include spending some time as a cashier (if you have no previous betting shop experience). You would gradually take on the duties of a deputy or assistant manager before going on to manage the shop independently.

If you work for a large employer you may also spend time at a central training centre with other new managers. You will usually be trained in areas such as:

  • calculating bets
  • betting and gambling laws
  • marketing the shop
  • betting shop administration
  • product knowledge
  • customer service
  • managing and developing staff
  • company policies.

You may also get the opportunity to work towards the following:

  • Level 3 NVQ in Gambling Operations
  • Level 3 Award in the Principles of Supervising Customer Service performance in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism.

Skills and knowledge

To be a bookmaker, you will need to have:

  • an understanding of different sporting events and conditions that can affect a result
  • a lively, confident and outgoing personality
  • good communication, negotiation and customer service skills
  • the ability to manage and lead a team of staff
  • the ability to understand betting regulations
  • an awareness of security issues
  • the ability to make calculations quickly
  • time management and good organisational skills
  • basic keyboard and computer skills
  • honesty, integrity and trustworthiness
  • the interest and ability to keep up to date with sport and other related events.

More information

People 1st (Opens new window)
2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.uksp.co.uk/ (careers information)
www.people1st.co.uk

National Association of Bookmakers Ltd (Opens new window)
PO Box 242
East Molesey
Surrey
KT8 2WE
Tel: 01884 841859
nab-bookmakers.co.uk

Association of British Bookmakers Ltd (Opens new window)
Regency House
1-4 Warwick Street
London
W1B 5LT
Tel: 020 7434 2111
www.abb.uk.com


Opportunities

You could find work at race courses with on-site betting, or within one of more than 8,000 betting shops spread across the country.

Your promotion opportunities are likely to be greatest within larger betting shop chains, which may allow you to progress to managing shops with a greater turnover or taking responsibility for all the shops in a region or district.

With experience and financial backing, you could set up as a self-employed bookmaker. You can get more information about this, including legal requirements, from the Association of British Bookmakers.

Jobs are advertised in the local press, in the Racing Post on a Saturday, and on websites such as:

You should also contact local betting shops and chains directly to discuss opportunities

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The gambling industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.

The gambling industry includes: casinos; bingo halls; betting; football pools; lotteries; and machines (such as amusement arcades). The industry has grown over the last year, due in part to the popularity of online gambling.

Key facts:

  • There are 94,600 people working in the gambling industry.
  • 19% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
  • The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (26%).
  • 14% of the workforce has no qualifications.
  • 69% of the workforce is employed full‐time.

[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]

Jobs in the industry range from: bingo callers, croupiers, betting shop cashier, assistant general manager, betting assistant manager, cleaner, inspector, pit boss, tele‐betting telephone operator, bingo manager.


National and regional data

East Midlands – There are approximately 4,900 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 33% of the workforce is 35‐39 years
  • 64% work full‐time
  • The majority of the workforce has no qualification (31%)

East of England – There are approximately 7,500 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 62% of the workforce is female
  • 20% of the workforce is 50‐54 years
  • 27% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

London – There are approximately 13,200 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 54% of the workforce is female
  • 71% of the workforce is white
  • 27% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 27% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

North East – There are approximately 7,700 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 22% of the workforce is 50‐59 years
  • 61% work full‐time
  • 30% of the workforce has no qualification

North West – There are approximately 13,400 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 29% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 71% work full‐time
  • 42% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

South East – There are approximately 10,100 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 60% of the workforce is female
  • 87% of the workforce is white
  • 26% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 37% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 qualification

South West – There are approximately 5,200 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 45% of the workforce is female
  • 23% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 33% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

West Midlands – There are approximately 8,100 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 94% of the workforce is white
  • 25% of the workforce is 25‐29 years
  • 71% work full‐time
  • 27% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 8,700 people working in the gambling industry in this region, of which:

  • 21% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 68% work full‐time
  • 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

Northern Ireland – There are approximately 43,900 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Northern Ireland, of which 1,200 work in the gambling industry in 100 establishments. Details are as follows:

  • 56% of the workforce is male
  • 69% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

Scotland – There are approximately 183,500 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Scotland, of which 10,700 work in the gambling industry in 1,200 establishments. Details are as follows:

  • 78% of the workforce is female
  • 27% of the workforce is 40‐44 years
  • 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

Wales – There are approximately 86,100 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Wales, of which 3,900 work in the gambling industry in 600 establishments. Details are as follows:

  • 70% of the workforce is female
  • 27% of the workforce is 40‐44 years
  • 38% of the workforce has no qualifications

[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]


Career paths


Further sources


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